Treatment device

ABSTRACT

A non-contact wound treatment device having a flexible portion to accommodate patient motion without peeling off. A removable wound heater may be used to treat the wound area.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a wound treatment device for coveringand in some applications heating skin lesions, surgical wounds and thelike. The wound treatment device includes a wound cover which cansupport a detachable planar wound heater. The wound covering provides anon-contact wound treatment volume over the wound area. The planarheater supplies or reflects heat from the wound area. The invention alsorelates to and addresses methods for making the wound covering and tomethods for treating a wound.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] One traditional method of treating a wound involves the placementof a sterile gauze over the wound area and holding the gauze in placewith adhesive tape. This type of wound dressing has numerousshortcomings. The wound is not fully isolated from the environment andcan exchange bacteria with the environment. The gauze can adhere to thewound area interfering with the healing process which is undesirable aswell. This traditional form of bandage does not control the thermalenvironment of the wound and this is undesirable as well.

[0003] Although wound heaters and non-contact wound coverings are knownthey are not generally accepted for several reasons. Wound coveringswhich include a rigid enclosure forming a cavity that covers the woundare usually adhesively attached to the skin of the patient with arelatively inelastic material. This results in the inability of thewound covering to accommodate patient motion. Usually patient motionwill cause the rigid wound covering to peel-off of the patient's skin.The traditional solution to this problem has been to use a moreaggressive adhesive tape or the like to more firmly attach the woundcovering to the skin. This solution to the problem results in anuncomfortable bandage.

[0004] The traditional wound covering does not permit close control overthe temperature of the wound area. Prior art heated bandages which relyon a non-contact enclosure may use point source type heaters whichresult in variations in radiant heat flux depending on the location ofthe heater within the enclosure. Therefore there is a need for anon-contact bandage which can be used to control the environment of thewound and which may be reliably and comfortably attached to the skin.

SUMMARY

[0005] The wound treatment device 10 of the present invention has aplanar upper surface displaced above the patient's skin surface, and anattachment surface generally in the plane of the patient's skin.Together these two surfaces define an enclosed non-contact volume overthe wound treatment site.

[0006] The wound treatment device 10 may be divided into three separateparts for the purpose of description. These parts are an attachmentportion 12, a wound treatment portion 14, and a transition portion 16.Each portion is designed to serve a separate function.

[0007] The attachment portion 12 is used to connect the wound treatmentdevice 10 to the skin of a patient. The attachment portion 12 willusually be formed as an annular attachment rim. An adhesive willtypically be placed on the attachment rim to couple the wound treatmentdevice 10 to the patient. The attachment portion 12 lies near thepatients skin and defines a so called first plane.

[0008] The wound treatment portion 14 of the wound treatment deviceincludes a standoff which rises above the patient's skin surface. Thestandoff defines the vertical extent or dimension of the wound treatmentdevice 10 and thus defines the location of the second plane. The woundtreatment portion 14 and standoff also define both a wound treatmentvolume 24 and a wound treatment area 26. The wound treatment volume 24is located over the surface of the wound. The atmosphere in this woundtreatment volume 24 can be controlled by the wound treatment device 10.The wound treatment area 26 is defined on the patient surface 18 underthe wound treatment portion 14, and will typically be centered over thelesion or wound.

[0009] The transition portion 16 connects the attachment portion 12 tothe wound treatment portion 14. This transition portion 16 improves thecomfort and utility of the wound treatment device when the patient movesand stretches the wound treatment device 10. This stretching causes thetotal projected area of the wound treatment device 10 to increase andthe shape of the wound treatment device 10 to change. In practice, thebulk of the patient motion is accommodated by the compliance of thetransition portion 16. As a consequence, the transition portionprojected area 17 increases. The standoff of wound treatment portion 14rests gently on the patient's skin and it may twist to accommodatepatient motion. However since the standoff can slide along the patient'sskin there is no substantial change in the projected wound treatmentarea 28 due to patient motion. During patient motion the attachmentportion 12 remains affixed to the surface of the patient and is easilydeformed by body motion because of its relatively small area.Consequently the attachment portion projected area 40 may undergo aslight increase in area as the attachment portion 12 moves with theunderlying skin. Throughout this motion the second planar surface issupported above the patients skin surface and can be used to support adetachable heater 32 which can heat the wound surface. A switch may alsobe provided to reduce power supplied to the wound treatment device 10 ifthe device is crushed in to contact with the wound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The various figures of the drawing depict illustrative andexemplary forms of the wound treatment device 10. Throughout the severalviews, identical reference characters represent similar structureswherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the woundtreatment device;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of projected areas;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of projected areas

[0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detachable heater in combinationwith a first embodiment of the wound treatment device;

[0015]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the woundtreatment device;

[0016]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the woundtreatment device;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heater system;

[0018]FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic of a pressure sensitive switchfor a heater system;

[0019]FIG. 9A is an exploded view of a pressure sensitive switchincorporated into a wound treatment device;

[0020]FIG. 9B is a view of a portion of the pressure sensitive switch;

[0021]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a passive heater embodiment ofthe wound treatment device;

[0022]FIG. 11A is a schematic drawing depicting an alternate geometryfor the transition portion;

[0023]FIG. 11B is a schematic drawing depicting an alternate geometryfor the transition portion;

[0024]FIG. 11C is a schematic drawing depicting an alternate geometryfor the transition portion;

[0025]FIG. 11D is a schematic drawing depicting an alternate geometryfor the transition portion;

[0026]FIG. 12A is a schematic drawing depicting functional relationshipsbetween several elements of the invention;

[0027]FIG. 12B is a schematic drawing depicting functional relationshipsbetween several elements of the invention.

[0028]FIG. 13A is a schematic drawing depicting functional relationshipsbetween several elements of the invention;

[0029]FIG. 13B is a schematic drawing depicting functional relationshipsbetween several elements of the invention;

[0030]FIG. 14A is a schematic drawing depicting functional relationshipsbetween several elements of the invention;

[0031]FIG. 14B is a schematic drawing depicting functional relationshipsbetween several elements of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wound treatment device 10applied to a patient's skin surface 18. A coordinate system 11 isdepicted on the patient's skin surface 18 and it defines X, Y and Zdirections. The attachment portion 12 is formed as an planar rim orflange. This element is attached to the patient's skin with an adhesiveand it lies in a first XY plane. In this first embodiment of the woundtreatment device 10 the transition portion 16 is integrally formed withthe attachment portion 12. The transition portion 16 rises verticallyfrom the skin surface in the Z direction to connect to the woundtreatment portion 14. In this embodiment the wound treatment portion 14has a transparent wound cover 20 which allows one to see the woundtreatment area 28. The wound cover 20 is supported above the first XYplane by a foam ring standoff 15. The wound cover 20 lies in a second XYplane that is vertically displaced along the Z-axis by the foam ringstandoff 15 from the first XY plane. The wound cover 20 and foam ringstandoff 15 together form the wound treatment portion 14. The regionover the wound treatment area 28 is called the wound treatment volume24.

[0033] In this figure the wound treatment device 10 has been applied toa patient's skin and is in a relaxed state. In this unstressed state onecan see the outer periphery 22 of the attachment portion 12. The innerperiphery 23 is shown by a crease in the structure where it connects tothe transition portion 16.

[0034]FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 should be considered together. Together theyshow the influence of patient motion on the wound treatment device 10.Both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are top views of the wound treatment device 10 ofFIG. 1 with the various portions of the wound treatment device 10projected onto the first XY plane.

[0035] In FIG. 2 the wound covering is shown in a relaxed andunstretched state having a nominal total projected area 27. Theprojected wound treatment area 28 is shown at the center of the woundtreatment device 10. The outline of the foam ring standoff 15 may beseen as the crosshatch area bounded by exterior perimeter 25 of the foamring standoff 15, and the interior perimeter 26 of the foam ringstandoff 15. The transition portion projected area 17 is shown in thefigure bounded by the inner periphery 23 of the attachment portion 12,and the interior perimeter 26 of the foam ring standoff 15. Theattachment portion projected area 40 is shown as the cross hatched areabounded by the outer periphery 22 and the inner periphery 23 of theattachment portion 12.

[0036]FIG. 3 shows the wound treatment device 10 stretched along theX-axis by patient motion. In comparison to FIG. 2 the overall or totalprojected area 27 of the wound treatment device 10 has increased. Theattachment portion projected area 40 has increased slightly as theattachment portion moves with the underlying skin. The projected woundenclosure area 28 is essentially unchanged in area since in thisembodiment the foam ring standoff 15 is free move against the skin. Thelargest percentage area change occurs in the transition portionprojected area 17. As the wound treatment device 10 deforms in responseto patient motion the transition portion is compliant and pays outmaterial permitting the majority of the total projected area 27 increaseto be accommodated primarily by the transition portion projected area17.

[0037]FIG. 4 shows a detachable heater 32 positioned for insertion intoa pocket formed by pocket cover 21. Pocket cover 21 is bonded to thewound cover 20 and is sized to retain the heater 32. The foam ringstandoff 15 and wound cover 20 serve to stabilize the shape of the woundtreatment device while the transition portion accommodates patientmotion. Consequently the heater is reliably and comfortably positionedabove the wound surface. In general it is desirable to use a planarheater 32 which has a constant heat output per unit area. This form ofheater results in a more uniform flux of radiant energy applied to thewound. And the amount of heat supplied to the wound area is largelyindependent of the height of the heater 32 above the wound surface.

[0038]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the woundtreatment device 10. The attachment portion 12 and transition portionmembrane 36 are formed as a unitary composite shell 38. The compositeshell may be vacuum formed from closed cell polyolefin foams such asVolara-6AS, which is a polyethylene material as sold by Illbruck Inc. ofMpls Minn. It should be apparent that many other materials may besubstituted within the scope of the invention. The foam ring standoff 15may be die cut from foam sheeting of a reticulated polyurethane foam.The absorbency of the foam as well as its mechanical properties can betailored to the particular wound treatment application. For example, thefoam standoff may be impregnated with a medicament such as anantibiotic; antifungal; or antimicrobial material. It may also bedesirable to supply a deodorant material or nitric oxide releasingmaterial from the foam standoff. The wound cover 20 and wound pocket 21may be made from a thin film of polyethylene. In general, the compositeshell should be sufficiently self supporting so that when the woundtreatment device 10 is removed from its release liner the woundtreatment portion 14 is held up or supported by the shaped flexion jointof the transition portion membrane 36, and some effort is required toevert the composite shell and turn it inside out. This behavior definesthe self supporting feature which causes the foam ring standoff 15 tolie gently against the skin even when the wound treatment device 10 isupside down. For larger wound coverings it may be desirable to apply atacky adhesive to the patient contact surface of the standoff.

[0039]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the woundtreatment device 10. The attachment portion 12 and transition portionmembrane 36 are formed as a unitary composite shell 38. In thisembodiment the wound treatment volume is formed by a serrated cupstandoff 34. This member made be made from a more rigid polymericmaterial such as polyethylene or the like. The serrations typified byserration 44 permit the serrated cup to flex and accommodate patientmotion. This embodiment shows a release liner 42 coupled to theattachment portion 12 of the composite shell 38 with an adhesive 46. Inthis embodiment the pocket cover 21 is bonded to the composite shell 38.

[0040]FIG. 7 depicts a power supply to permit the ambulatory use of theheated versions of the wound treatment device. A collection of batterycells may be wired together to form the power supply 48 which may beconveniently attached to a belt 49. A suitable cable 50 may be used toconduct power to the heater 32. In many instances it may be desirable tocut off power to the heater if the wound treatment device is collapsedagainst the wound to prevent overheating of the wound surface.

[0041]FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a touch switch whichmay be incorporated directly into the detachable heater 32. The heater32 includes a continuous resistive heating coil 51. A conductivemembrane 52 is arranged near the coil 51 so that it may “short out”segments or portions of the coil 51. In use power to the coil iscompletely turned off by pressure applied to the entire touch sensor 53.

[0042]FIG. 9A shows an exploded version of the heater 32 whichincorporates a touch switch of the type described schematically in FIG.8. The switch cover 45 has a conductive membrane which is located overthe conductive pattern of the heating coil 51. It is held in positionwith an adhesive band 54. FIG. 9B shows the underside of the switchcover 45 showing a number of discrete insulation bumps typified by bump47 which serve to space and support the conductive membrane 52 above theheating coil pattern 51. Pressure supplied to the switch coverinactivates the heater coil 51.

[0043]FIG. 10 shows a an accessory device 55 or cover. This may take theform of a passive heater with a reflective surface facing the wound. Theaccessory device may also take the form of a mapping grid where a gridwork of lines is positioned on a transparent card to permit tacking ofthe wound healing process.

[0044]FIG. 11A through FIG. 11D should be considered together. Thesedrawings facilitate a description of connection structures of theinvention and represent several alternative connection geometries. Ingeneral to accommodate patient motion the transition portion pays outstored material to increase the projected area of the transitionportion. Each of these drawings represents a mechanical schematic crosssection of a wound treatment device 10 in the XZ plane. In each figurethe wound covering is in the relaxed state.

[0045]FIG. 11A shows a schematic standoff 15 extending from a firstplane 56 to a second plane 58. The transition portion 16 has atransition portion membrane 60 which is coupled to the attachmentportion 12 by a first flexible connection 62 formed at the intersectionof the attachment portion 12 and the transition portion 16. Thetransition portion membrane 60 is connected to the treatment portion ata second flexible connection 64 which is formed at the intersection ofthe transition portion 16 and the wound treatment portion 14. The woundtreatment portion 14 is generally a cylindrical cup shaped structuredefining a wound treatment area on the patient skin surface. The minimuminterconnection distance 66 is depicted as a dashed line extending fromthe first flexible connection 62 to the second flexible connection 64.The length of this minimum interconnection distance 66 can be used tocharacterize the “length” of the transition portion membrane 60. Formany embodiments of the invention the length of the transition portion16 between the first flexible connection 62 and the second flexibleconnection 64 is greater than the length of the straight line drawnbetween these points. This relationship is true for many embodiments ofthe wound treatment device when they are in the relaxed or unstressedposition. It should be noted that the vertical distance between thefirst plane 56 and the second plane 58 represents a minimum value forthe minimum interconnection distance 66. In the XY plane the firstflexible connection 62 forms a first perimeter 61 and a second perimeter63. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11A the first perimeter 61 islarger than the second perimeter 63.

[0046]FIG. 11B is a mechanical schematic diagram which represents across section of another embodiment of the wound treatment device 10with an alternate connection geometry. In this drawing the wound cover20 extends radially beyond the wound treatment volume 24 so that thesecond perimeter 68 is greater than the first perimeter 71. Thisgenerates a reflex transition portion 74 construction which may beadopted to increase the “length” and amount of material in the reflextransition portion 74.

[0047]FIG. 11C shows a construction where the first perimeter 76 and thesecond perimeter 78 have approximately the same value and are bothconcentric with the axis 90. This construction can produce an undulatedtransition portion 77. Once again the length of the undulated transitionportion 77 exceeds the length of the line 65 between the first perimeter78 and the second perimeter 76.

[0048]FIG. 11D shows a hemispheric shell 70 as the wound treatmentportion 14. In this embodiment the second perimeter 80 is a singleattachment point generally concentric with the axis 90. In thisembodiment the first perimeter 81 has a length which greatly exceeds thesecond perimeter 80 length. This construction forms a hemispherictransition portion 79 which has a length which exceeds the lineardistance between the second perimeter 80 and the first perimeter 81along the line 85.

[0049] Although the various geometries vary in detail it is preferred toform the transition portion from a resilient material which is generallyself-supporting, yet sufficiently flexible so that it acts as acompliant hinge mechanism. This flexibility prevents the transfer ofshearing force from the wound treatment portion 14 to the attachmentportion 12 of the wound treatment device 10 and visa versa. With thegeometries set forth in FIG. 11A through FIG. 11D the transition portionof the wound treatment device 10 forms a shaped flexion joint or formedexpansion joint which stores “material” in a pleat, convolution orbellows or the like. This type of structure provides a means forexpanding the size of the transition portion to minimize the transfer offorces from the attachment portion 12 to the wound treatment portion 14.

[0050]FIG. 12A through FIG. 14B should be considered together. In theseembodiments of the invention the standoff structure reduces in height toresult in the increased transition portion area during the stretching ofthe wound treatment device.

[0051]FIG. 12A shows a part of a wound treatment device having a foamring standoff 15 which is shown in the unstressed or relaxed state. Inthis instance the transition portion projected area 17 is proportionalto dimension 88. In FIG. 12B the wound treatment device has beenstretched and the height of the foam ring standoff 15 is reduced in theZ direction which has increased the transition portion projected area asrepresented by dimension 91.

[0052]FIG. 13A shows a part of a wound treatment device having aserrated cup standoff 34 which is shown in the unstressed or relaxedstate. In this instance the transition portion projected area 17 isproportional to dimension 98. In FIG. 13B the wound treatment device hasbeen stretched and the height of the serrated cup standoff 34 is reducedin the Z direction. The serrated wall sections splay out to permit theheight reduction which has increased the transition portion projectedarea as represented by dimension 99.

[0053]FIG. 14A shows a part of a wound treatment device having a foamring standoff 15 which is shown in the unstressed or relaxed state.However in this construction the attachment portion 12 and transitionportion membrane 96 lie entirely in the first plane 56. In this instancethe transition portion projected area 17 is proportional to dimension94. In FIG. 14B the wound treatment device has been stretched and theheight of the foam ring standoff 15 is reduced in the Z direction. Thisheight reduction which has increased the transition portion projectedarea is represented by dimension 92.

[0054] Having thus described the invention it should be apparent thatnumerous changes may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wound treatment device for attachment to apatient's skin surface and for accommodating stretching motion of saidpatient's skin surface from a first nominally relaxed state to a secondstretched state, said wound treatment device comprising: a woundattachment portion lying in contact with said patients's skin surface,said patient's skin surface defining a first plane; a wound treatmentportion defining a wound treatment area on said patient's skin surface,and defining a non-contact wound treatment volume over said woundtreatment area; said wound treatment portion including a standoffextending from said first plane to a second plane, said second planebeing parallel to said first plane; a transition portion for couplingsaid attachment portion to said wound treatment portion, said transitionportion including a membrane connected to said attachment portionproximate said first plane and connected to said standoff; whereby, saidattachment portion projected onto said patient's skin surface defines aprojected attachment area; said wound treatment portion projected ontosaid patient's skin surface defines a projected wound treatment area;said transition portion projected onto said patient's skin surfacedefines a projected transition portion area; said wound covering havinga nominal total projected area corresponding to said first relaxed stateand having an increased total projected area corresponding to saidsecond stressed state wherein said total projected area is increasedover said nominal total projected area; and said increased totalprojected area results primarily from compliance of said transitionportion.
 2. The wound treatment device of claim 1 wherein said increasedtotal projected area results from compliance of said transition portionwhile said wound treatment area remains substantially unchanged.
 3. Thewound treatment device of claim 1 wherein said increased total projectedarea results primarily from compliance of said transition portion andsecondarily to compliance of said attachment portion.
 4. The woundtreatment device of claim 1 wherein said increased total projected arearesults primarily from compliance of said transition portion andsecondarily to compliance of said attachment portion, while said woundtreatment area remains substantially unchanged.
 5. The wound treatmentdevice of claim 1 wherein said transition portion comprises: a shapedflexion joint membrane coupled to said attachment portion at a firstconnection, said first connection proximate said first plane, andconnected to said standoff portion at a second connection, said secondconnection proximate said second plane; whereby, the linear distancebetween said first connection and said second connection, defines aminimum interconnection distance; said shaped flexion joint membraneextending between said first connection and said second connection, andhaving a curvilinear length which exceeds said minimum interconnectiondistance when said wound treatment device is in said relaxed state;whereby, said increased total projected transition portion area resultsfrom extension of said curvilinear length of said shaped flexion jointmembrane.
 6. The wound treatment device of claim 5 wherein saidtransition portion comprises: a shaped flexion joint membrane coupled tosaid attachment portion at a first connection, said first connectionproximate said first plane, and coupled to said standoff portion at asecond connection, said second connection proximate said second plane;whereby the linear distance between said first connection and saidsecond connection, defines a minimum interconnection distance; saidshaped flexion joint membrane extending between said first connectionand said second connection, and having a curvilinear length whichexceeds said minimum interconnection distance; whereby said increasedtotal projected transition portion area results from extension of saidcurvilinear length of said shaped flexion joint membrane and reductionof height of said standoff.
 7. The wound treatment device of claim 1wherein said transition portion comprises: a relatively inelasticmembrane connected to said standoff proximate said second plane, andconnected to said attachment portion proximate said first plane; wherebysaid increased total projected transition portion area results primarilyfrom reduction of height of said standoff.
 8. The wound treatment deviceof claim 1 wherein said transition portion comprises: a relativelyinelastic membrane connected to said standoff proximate said firstplane, and connected to said attachment portion proximate said firstplane; whereby said increased total projected transition portion arearesults primarily from reduction of height of said standoff.
 9. Thewound treatment device of claim 1 wherein said wound treatment portioncomprises: a polymeric foam ring having an interior wall and having anexterior wall, each of said walls extending from said first plane tosaid second plane; a wound cover lying in said second plane and spanningat least the distance of said interior wall forming a closed woundtreatment volume.
 10. The wound treatment device of claim 9 wherein:said polymeric foam ring is made from polyureathane.
 11. The woundtreatment device of claim 9 wherein: said polymeric foam ring is madefrom a reticulated polyurethane.
 12. The wound treatment device of claim9 wherein: said polymeric foam ring is impregnated with a medicament forrelease into said wound treatment volume.
 13. The wound treatment deviceof claim 9 wherein: said polymeric foam ring is impregnated with amedicament, said medicament released into said wound treatment volume bythe application of heat to said wound treatment volume.
 14. The woundtreatment device of claim 9 wherein: said polymeric foam ring isimpregnated with a deodorant.
 15. The wound treatment device of claim 12wherein: said medicament is an antimicrobial material.
 16. The woundtreatment device of claim 12 wherein: said medicament is an antibioticmaterial.
 17. The wound treatment device of claim 12 wherein: saidmedicament releases nitric oxide.
 18. The wound treatment device ofclaim 1 wherein said wound treatment portion comprises: a polymeric cuphaving a wall, said wall extending from said first plane to said secondplane, said wall defining a standoff; said polymeric cup having aunitary cover section lying in said second plane, said polymeric cupdefining and enclosing a wound treatment volume.
 19. The wound treatmentdevice of claim 18 wherein said polymeric cup wall is serrated toincrease the flexibility of said cup wall.
 20. A wound treatment devicefor attachment to a patient's skin surface said wound treatment devicecomprising: a wound attachment portion lying in contact with saidpatients's skin surface, said patient's skin surface defining a firstplane; a standoff portion extending from said first plane to a secondplane substantially parallel to said first plane said standoff portiondefining a wound treatment volume over a wound treatment area; atransition portion connected to said standoff portion and connected tosaid attachment portion; a planar heater located in said second planesupported by said standoff for radiating heat onto said wound treatmentarea.
 21. The wound treatment device of claim 20 further comprising: apocket formed in said second plane for receiving and retaining saidactive planar heater above said wound treatment area.
 22. The woundtreatment device of claim 20 further comprising: a switch located onsaid wound treatment device and coupled to said planar heater forturning off said active planar heater when pressure is applied to saidswitch.
 23. The wound treatment device of claim 20 , further comprising:a switch located on said planar heater for turning off said activeplanar heater when pressure is applied to said switch.
 24. The woundtreatment device of claim 20 further comprising: a sequencer coupled tosaid planar heater for periodically activating said planar heater forthe treatment of said wound treatment area.
 25. The wound treatmentdevice of claim 20 further comprising: an adjustable temperaturecontroller coupled to said planar heater for setting the planar heatertemperature for the treatment of said wound treatment area.
 26. A woundtreatment device for attachment to a patient's skin surface said woundtreatment device comprising: a wound attachment portion lying in contactwith said patients's skin surface, said patient's skin surface defininga first plane; a standoff portion extending from said first plane to asecond plane substantially parallel to said first plane said standoffportion defining a wound treatment volume over a wound treatment area; atransition portion connected to said standoff portion and connected tosaid attachment portion; a heat reflector located in said second planesupported by said standoff for reflecting heat onto said wound treatmentarea.
 27. The wound treatment device of claim 22 wherein: said switchcomprises a switch membrane positioned proximate said planar heater fordisconnecting sections of said planar heater in response to pressuresupplied to said switch membrane.
 28. The wound treatment device ofclaim 20 further comprising: a power source connected to a belt forconnection to said planar heater for ambulatory use of said woundcovering.
 29. A method of making a wound treatment device comprising thesteps of: forming a unitary cup shaped member having an attachmentportion and having a transition portion and having a wound treatmentportion; removing an area of said cup member forming a window zone;attaching a wound cover to said window zone; positioning and attaching awound enclosure ring proximate said wound cover; adhesively applying arelease liner to said attachment portion.
 30. A method of treating awound comprising the steps of: positioning a planar radiant heat sourceabove said wound; enclosing the wound with a non-contact wound treatmentdevice.